HELENA, Mont. – The Carroll College Fighting Saints defeated the College of Idaho 69-12 in the regular season finale to move to 9-1. The Saints also received help from Eastern Oregon. The Mountaineers defeated Southern Oregon 31-27 to give the Saints the outright Frontier Conference title .

Dustin Rinker ran for 170 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Carroll attack that piled up 398 yards rushing and seven touchdowns.  

The Saints passing attack didn't slouch wither. Mac Roche was 12- 21 for 230 yards and three touchdowns, most of which came in the first half.

The Carroll defense held the Yotes to just 278 yards. It is the eighth time in ten games that the Saints have allowed their opponents to score 14 points or less.

The Saints scored on their first possession after a four play 49-yard drive capped off by a three-yard Rinker touchdown dive. C of I answered with a 75-yard drive capped by a qb keeper by Teejay Gordan.

Carroll answered again with another Rinker touchdown after a 93-yard drive.

The Yotes scored again when a missed assignment left Marcus Lenhardt wide open for the 58-yard touchdown.

Carroll got the ball back with 10: 43 left in the second quarter and scored three touchdowns before halftime.

The Saints never punted, but on the final drive before halftime the Saints faces a fourth-and-eight. Punter Rhys Felton tucked the ball and ran 13-yards for the first down to keep the drive alive. The Saints scored with nine seconds left in the half to go up 35-12 at the break.

Carroll added five more touchdowns after halftime to complete the rout.

The field for the NAIA Football Championship Series will be officially announced at 4 p.m. MST tomorrow via a live, free web video feed.

"We're excited to still be playing football this late in the year, it is a second season." Head coach Mike Van Diest Said. "When you look at playoffs, this is the way it should be. The 16 best teams get a chance to compete for the trophy, loser goes home and the winner advances. There is nothing better than playoffs. All sports should have playoffs like this."

Eastern Oregon's 31-27 win over SOU also opened the door for the Mountaineers to make the field of 16. The Frontier Conference has never had three teams in the NAIA playoffs.

The Saints will be in line for one of the top seeds in the playoffs with the win and the loss of No. 1 Morningside.

The web address for the selection show is portal.stretchinternet.com/naia.